The Clarkston Post Office will be open until midnight on tax day, April 15, and will also extend their passport hours to 9 a.m. that day to allow area residents to make the most of the trip.
‘We’re making it as easy as possible to take care of some tasks that are easy to put off,? said Jane Haugen, Clarkston Postmaster.
Acquiring a passport has renewed importance since the announcement by the State Department that passports will be required to cross the border from Canada by 2008.
All passport applicants should bring the following items with them:
? Two forms of identification ? birth certificate with official raised seal or naturalization certificate and current driver’s license or state identification card.
? Those 13 and under must be present at the time of application, have both parents or legal guardians sign the ‘Statement of Consent? (Form DS-3053), and for those where both guardians cannot be present the ‘Statement of Consent? must be notarized.
? Two identical color passport photos (2? X 2? inches), plain white or off-white background. Pictures can be taken on site.
The following costs apply to passports: passport fee is $67, fee for children under 16 is $52, execution fee is $30 for all ages and passport photos on site are $15.
And now for the taxes? the postal service offers the following advice:
? Use pre-addressed labels when possible. Write clearly. Include a return address.
? Affix sufficient postage. One ounce is 37 cents. Weigh any tax return when unsure. Tax agencies do not accept postage due mail, tax returns bearing insufficient postage will be returned ? meaning taxpayers may be penalized.
? Avoid the made rush at the post office. Mail returns in local mail collection boxes, but remember to make certain that the posted pick-up time has not passed to ensure returns will have an April 15 postmark.
? For customers sending original receipts to tax agencies, registered mail is a good choice.
? Make certain bulky envelopes are sealed and have adequate postage.
‘No one wants to pay Uncle Same more than they have to just because they missed a deadline,? said Haugen. ‘Getting the April 15 postmark assures that doesn’t happen.?
For more information, please call 1-800-ASK-USPS or go to www.usps.com/passport.